Starting switch structure in a model plane

ABSTRACT

A starting switch structure comprising a pair of fixed and movable contact plates adapted to be brought into contact with each other by pulling a control wire, a miniature electric motor for rotating a propeller and a dry cell all of which are mounted on the plane electrically connected to form an electric circuit. Such starting switch structure enables the model plane to be started by a single operator without an aid of an assistant by simply pulling the control wire from the distance. It weighs light, ensures a long period of life, and is simply constructed and manufactured at a low cost.

States atent Mabuchi et al. 45 Get, 10, 1972 [54] STARTING SWITCHSTRUCTURE IN ['56] References Cited 2 iVIODEL i UNITED STATES PATENTS 7t 1 z zffi xgg 'z iga mm 3,375,605 4/1968 Gallagher ..46/77 J 3,579,9055/1971 Radford ..46/78 apan [73] Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.,Tokyo, Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Japan Assistant Examiner-RobertF. Cutting [22] Filed: Dec 7, 1971 Attorney-Staas, Halsey & Gable [21]Appl. No.: 205,501 [57] ABSTRACT A starting switch structure comprisinga pair of fixed and movable contact plates adapted to be brought into[30] Foreign Application Priorit D t contact with each other by pullinga control wire, a miniature electric motor for rotating a propeller anda Dec. 7, 1970 Japan ..45/121028 dry cell all f hi are mounted on theplane l 1970 Japan "45/121030 cally connected to form an electriccircuit. Such start- Dec. 7, 1970 Japan ..45/121029 i witch tructureenables the model plane to be started by a single operator without anaid of an assistant by simply pulling the control wire from the [52] US.Cl. ..46/243 AV, 46/77, 272/31 A distance. It weighs light, ensures along period of life, [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 27/00, A63h 33/26 and issimply constructed and manufactured at a low [58] Field ofSearch.....46/77, 78, 243 AV; 272/31 A cost.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucI 10 m2 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG.]

STARTING SWITCH STRUCTURE IN A MODEL PLANE This invention relates to astarting switch structure in a model plane and more particularly to astarting switch structure including a pair of fixed and movable contactplates adapted to be brought into contact with each other by pulling acontrol wire, a miniature motor for rotating a propeller and a dry cellall of which are mounted on the plane and electrically connected.

At a prior technical level in this field, it has been impossible tomount a miniature electric motor and a dry cell on a model planedesigned to fly in the air until an idea of mounting the motor and a drycell on the plane body was completed for the first time in a copendingpatent application (Japanese Pat. Application No. l060l9/70). Therefore,in a conventional type of a model plane, a starting operation must bemade by hand and requires an aid of an assistant besides an operator whocontrols a flight.

In view of the novel idea of mounting both a motor and a dry cell on amodel plane disclosed in said copending patent application, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a starting switch structurein a model plane which enables the plane to be started by a singleoperator without an aid of an assistant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a startingswitch structure in a model plane in which an electric circuit is surelyclosed by simply pulling a control wire at a distance from the plane.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide astarting switch structure in a model plane which is simply constructedand manufactured at a low cost, weighs light and assures a long periodof life.

Essentially, according to the present invention, there is provided astarting switch structure in a model plane comprising a control wireextended from a control grip held by an operator and fitted at the otherend to a plane body; a fixed contact plate fixedly mounted on the body;a movable contact plate provided ordinarily apart from said fixedcontact plate and adapted to be brought into contact with said fixedcontact plate by pulling said control wire; a miniature motor mounted onthe body for rotating a propeller; and a dry cell accomodated in thebody, said fixed contact plate, movable contact plate, miniature motorand dry cell being electrically connected thereby to form an electriccircult.

Various further and more specific object, features and advantages ofthis invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustratingby way of example an embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a starting switch structure adaptablefor a model plane of G-control grip type which is one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of contact members in FIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view like FIG. 2 showing a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another starting switch structureadaptable for a model plane of G-control grip type according to thisinvention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of contact member in FIG. 4 in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view like FIG. 5 showing a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a movable contact plate in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a starting switch structure adaptablefor a model plane of U-control grip type which is still anotherembodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of contact members in FIG. 8 in aclosed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 3, there is illustrated a starting switchstructure adapted for a model plane of G-control grip type in which agrip held by an operator for controlling a control wire is G-shaped.Numeral 1 represents a plane body having an insulating plate 2 fixedthereto. To both sides of said insulating plate 2 are a fixed contactplate 3 and a movable contact plate 4 attached keeping an insulationtherebetween with their base portions fixed to the insulating plate witha suitable set pin 5. In said fixed contact plate 3, on its one faceconfronting said movable contact plate 4 is formed a contact point 3a.The movable contact plate 4 is made of a resilient material and to itsfree end is a control wire 6 fastened. The fixed and movable contactplates 3 and 4 are electrically connected to a dry cell 7, a miniatureelectric motor 8 and a propeller 9 mounted on the body 1 to form anelectric circuit.

When the control wire 6 is pulled by the operator, the movable contactplate 4 is brought into contact with the contact point 30 of the fixedcontact plate 3 as shown in FIG. 3 to close the electric circuit, andwhen the wire 6 is loosened, the movable contact plate 4 is restored byits own resiliency to get apart from the fixed contact plate 3 to openthe circuit.

Referring then to FIGS. 4 7, there is illustrated another startingswitch structure adapted for a model plane of the same G-control griptype as in the former embodiment, and like members, a plane body 1, adry cell 7, a miniature electric motor 8 and a propeller 9 arerepresented by the same numerals. An insulating plate 12 is fixed to thebody 1. A fixed contact plate 13 is fitted to said insulating plate 12with a set pin 13a such as a screw or the like. An axis 15 isupstandingly provided on the insulating plate 12.

A movable contact plate generally represented by numeral 14 comprises aforward portion 14a having a contact tip l4a,, a backward portion 14b towhich a control wire 17 is fastened, an upper support Me, a connectingportion 14d connecting said portions 14a and 14b through the uppersupport 140, and a lower support Me. In said upper and lower supports14c and 14e, there are formed respective holes through which the axis 15is rotatably inserted. A coil spring 16 is windingly provided around theaxis 15 for restoring the movable contact plate 14 once brought intocontact with the fixed contact plate 13 to an open position thereby toopen the electric circuit. The control wire 17 fastened at its one endto the tip of the backward portion 14b of the movable contact plate 14is extended through a guide ring In formed in the body 1 to reach theG-shaped grip held by the operator. The stoppers 12a and 12b are formedon the insulating plate 12 for defining rotation of the movable contact14. The dry cell 7, miniature motor 8, propeller 9 and fixed and movablecontact plates 13 and 14 are electrically connected.

When the control wire 17 is pulled against the coil spring 16, themovable contact plate 14 rotates around the axis 15 to bring the contacttip 14a into contact with the fixed contact plate 13. Thus, the circuitis completed and the miniature motor starts to rotate accordingly. Themovable contact plate 14 rotates reversely when the wire 17 is loosenedthereby to open the circuit.

Further referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated a startingswitch structure adaptable for a model plane of U-control grip type inwhich a grip held by an operator for controlling control wires isU-shaped. In the drawings, a plane body, a dry cell, a miniatureelectric motor and a propeller are represented by the same numerals asin the former embodiments.

The body 1 is equipped with an elevator 1b in its tail. A fixedcontactplate 22 and a movable contact plate 23 are fixed to the body 1 througha suitable base board with set pins 22a and 23a respectively. Themovable contact plate 23 is made of a resilient material and its freeend 23b is adapted to come into contact with a contact point 22b of thefixed contact plate 22 by resiliency of the movable contact plateitself.

A rotary plate '24 comprising three projections 24a, 24b and 240 and ahook portion 24d is axially and rotatably fitted to the body 1 with anaxis 24e.

Control wires 25 and 26 extending from the U- shaped grip of the controlcenter are fastened to tip ends of the projections 24a and 24b of therotary plate respectively. A rod 27 is provided between the projection240 and the elevator 1b. The hook portion 24d of the rotary plate 24 isso constructed as to engage with the contact end 23b of the movablecontact plate 23. The dry cell 7, miniature motor 8, propeller 9 andfixed and movable contact plates 22 and 23 form an electric circuit.

When the control wire 25 is pulled by the operator, the rotary plate 24rotates around the axis 24c and the hook portion 24d is disengaged fromthe tip end 236 of the movable contact plate 23 permitting said plate 23to spring up by its own resiliency thereby to bring the tip end 23b intocontact with the contact point 22b of the fixed contact plate 22. Thusthe circuit is completed and the motor 8 starts to rotate. Incoincidence with the rotation of the rotary plate 24, the rod 27 movesbackward and the elevator lb is lifted upward to effectively float theplane in the air. The elevator can be moved to effect an upward ordownward flight of the plane by pulling the control wire 25 or 26according to case.

In the instant embodiment, the completion of the electric circuit issurely maintained and the upward or downward flight of the model planecan be effected in association with the starting switch structure.

As apparent from the above descriptions, according to the presentinvention, the electric circuit is closed or opened by simply pulling orloosening a wire, that is, make and break operation of the circuit iseasily and re' liably performed by a single operator. Moreover, theentire switch structure is simply constructed, weighs light and ensuresa long period of life enough to be mounted on a flying model plane,and'therefore, it is manufactured through simple processes at a lowcost.

What is claimed is:

l. A starting switch structure in a model plane comprising a controlwire extended from control grip held by an operator and fitted at theother end to a plane body; a fixed contact plate fixedly mounted on thebody; a movable contact plate provided ordinarily apart from said fixedcontact plate and adapted to be brought into contact with said fixedcontact plate by pulling said control wire; a miniature motor mounted onthe body for rotating a propeller; and a dry cell accomodated in thebody, said fixed contact plate, movable contact plate, miniature motorand dry cell being electrically connected thereby to form an electriccircuit.

2. A starting switch structure in a model plane as claimed in claim 1and adapted for a G-control grip type model plane wherein said movablecontact plate is made of a resilient material and fixed to the fixedcontact plate at their base portions through an insulating plate, saidcontrol wire being fastened to a free end of said movable contact platethereby to bring the movable contact plate into contact with said fixedcontact plate.

3. A starting switch structure as claimed in claim 1 and adapted for aG-control grip type model plane wherein said fixed contact plate isfitted to an insulating plate fixed to the body and having an axisupstandingly provided thereon, said movable contact plate beingrotatably mounted on the insulating plate around said axis and providedwith said control wire to bring the movable contact plate into contactwith said fixed contact plate, a coil spring being provided around saidaxis to keep the electric circuit open.

4. A starting switch structure in a model plane as claimed in claim 1and adapted for a U-control grip type model plane wherein said movablecontact plate is made of a resilient material, a rotary plate having ahook portion and three projections being rotatably fitted to the body,said hook portion being adapted to engage with said movable contactplate to keep the electric circuit open, two control wires beingfastened to two of said projections respectively to rotate the rotaryplate, a rod being provided connecting the other projection to anelevator thereby to effect an upward or downward movement of saidelevator in coincidence with the rotation of the rotary plate.

1. A starting switch structure in a model plane comprising a controlwire extended from control grip held by an operator and fitted at theother end to a plane body; a fixed contact plate fixedly mounted on thebody; a movable contact plate provided ordinarily apart from said fixedcontact plate and adapted to be brought into contact with said fixedcontact plate by pulling said control wire; a miniature motor mounted onthe body for rotating a propeller; and a dry cell accomodated in thebody, said fixed contact plate, movable contact plate, miniature motorand dry cell being electrically connected thereby to form an electriccircuit.
 2. A starting switcH structure in a model plane as claimed inclaim 1 and adapted for a G-control grip type model plane wherein saidmovable contact plate is made of a resilient material and fixed to thefixed contact plate at their base portions through an insulating plate,said control wire being fastened to a free end of said movable contactplate thereby to bring the movable contact plate into contact with saidfixed contact plate.
 3. A starting switch structure as claimed in claim1 and adapted for a G-control grip type model plane wherein said fixedcontact plate is fitted to an insulating plate fixed to the body andhaving an axis upstandingly provided thereon, said movable contact platebeing rotatably mounted on the insulating plate around said axis andprovided with said control wire to bring the movable contact plate intocontact with said fixed contact plate, a coil spring being providedaround said axis to keep the electric circuit open.
 4. A starting switchstructure in a model plane as claimed in claim 1 and adapted for aU-control grip type model plane wherein said movable contact plate ismade of a resilient material, a rotary plate having a hook portion andthree projections being rotatably fitted to the body, said hook portionbeing adapted to engage with said movable contact plate to keep theelectric circuit open, two control wires being fastened to two of saidprojections respectively to rotate the rotary plate, a rod beingprovided connecting the other projection to an elevator thereby toeffect an upward or downward movement of said elevator in coincidencewith the rotation of the rotary plate.